First Place Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason First Place Housing of Tavistock Street, Dunstable have been refused a further grant from his Department; and if he will make a statement. [129312]

[holding answer 7 July 2000]: My Department offered First Place Housing a grant this year towards the costs of their outreach service. They decided however to forgo this grant and discontinue this area of their work. First Place Housing then bid for a grant under the new Special Innovation Fund. The Fund was significantly oversubscribed and we had to make some very tough choices, which has led to a large number of organisations being disappointed—many of which, like First Place Housing, had submitted proposals for worthwhile projects.